"Iā??m just glad we donā??t have to face (John Lackey) this series," David Ortiz says of facing the St. Louis Cardinals. "That would have been so super weird." / Chris Lee AP

by Bob Nightengale, USA TODAY Sports

by Bob Nightengale, USA TODAY Sports

ST. LOUIS - The Boston Red Sox were riding on duck boats just nine months ago in their World Series parade, but are looking for life boats these days, adrift in a lost season.

The St. Louis Cardinals, who lost to the Red Sox in the World Series, are poised once again for a return trip, only with different cast of characters, including the same pitcher who ended their season.

"It does feel different,'' Boston Red Sox manager John Farrell said, "not just because it's August compared to October of a year ago, but with so many faces that have changed.

"There were so many changes for both of us at the deadline.

"And prominent guys, too, who were key figures to the World Series a year ago.''

The renovation has been so dramatic that when the Red Sox took the field Wednesday night at Busch Stadium, they had only 11 active players from last year's World Series. The Cardinals had 11 new players on their active roster.

"It's shocking, really,'' Red Sox DH David Ortiz said.

The makeover was so swift that just six days ago, Joe Kelly was hanging out with his best friend, Shelby Miller, in San Diego, talking about winning another National League pennant together in St. Louis.

Yet, on Wednesday night, they were opponents, and scheduled to face one another for the first time in their lives.

"The toughest part is that at the end of the year,'' Red Sox veteran second baseman Dustin Pedroia tells USA TODAY Sports, "everybody kept talking about certain guys that would be here a long time. You think they'll always be your teammates. And it just changed so fast.''

Jon Lester, who had been with the Red Sox since 2002, and dominated the Cardinals in the World Series, is now with the Oakland Athletics.

John Lackey, who had been with the Red Sox for nearly five years, and was the winning pitcher in the deciding Game 6 over the Cardinals, is now pitching for the Cardinals.

Kelly, along with first baseman/outfielder Allen Craig, are now with the Red Sox.

And catcher A.J. Pierznyski, who opened the season with the Red Sox, is now with the Cardinals.

"From where (the Red Sox) started the spring to where they are now,'' Pierznyski says, "is amazing.

"It's pretty mind-boggling."

The two franchises, who got acquainted last October, found themselves as friendly trade partners last week. It's the first time since 1988 that teams who played in a World Series traded players to one another the following season.

"It's really a weird thing, especially because it happened so fast,'' Red Sox first baseman Mike Napoli says. "You'll always be friends for life, but it's so tough seeing guys that you were with every single day, and now they're on the other side of the field.''

Said Ortiz: "I'm just glad we don't have to face (Lackey) this series. That would have been so super weird. That's my boy. That would have been tough.''

It's eerie enough for Kelly and Miller, who have been best of friends since 2009, and groomsmen in each other's weddings. Now, after a tearful good-bye just a week ago, stunning and even angering the Cardinals' clubhouse, Kelly was scheduled to face his teammates.

"I'm trying to keep emotions out of it," said Kelly, who made a bet with Miller, agreeing to cough up $100 if either pitcher collects a hit off one another.

Ortiz laughed when told the story, remembering when his close friend, Damaso Marte, stopped letting him pay for dinner after Ortiz homered off him.

"I've been there,'' Ortiz says, "and it's a weird feeling. I'm sure Joe will have a lot of emotions. You're facing your friends but on the other hand, you want to show the team that just traded you that they made a big mistake.

"I went through that with the Twins. Every time I faced them, I wanted to hurt them.''

In time, any anger and harsh feelings will subside.

"The business of baseball of baseball,'' Craig says, "sometimes takes you in directions you weren't exactly expecting.''

The Red Sox, who have been to the postseason eight times since 2003, winning three World Series championships, knew they had to overhaul the roster.

They will spend the rest of the season evaluating their system, going without four of their opening-season starters, and their most dependable reliever in Andrew Miller.

Who knows, maybe the Red Sox get two of the pieces back in the off-season, with Lester and left-handed reliever Andrew Miller each eligible for free agency, and open to a reunion. Considering the Red Sox weren't interested in paying Lester when they had exclusive negotiating rights, Kansas City Royals ace James Shields probably makes more sense, who will be cheaper and has AL East experience.

"We need some guys in the organization,'' Red Sox GM Ben Cherington says, "to step up. It's nice to have an ace on the top of the rotation, but you can be good in different ways.''

The Cardinals, who opened the night one game behind the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Central, certainly approached it differently.

They had an ace in Adam Wainwright. They acquired another in Lackey, and a fifth starter in Justin Masterson, believing change was needed to win.

The Red Sox, sitting in last place in the AL East, can only watch, but silently root.

Their dream matchup: Oakland vs. St. Louis, Lester vs. Lackey, in Game 7.

"Hey, if we're not going to be in it,'' Napoli says, "you're hoping your friends are.''

And these days, those friends are scattered everywhere, a long way from that 2013 World Series.